Robert M. FitzGerald
Litchfield

Attorney Robert M. FitzGerald of Litchfield died on August 9, 2015. He was 88 years old. He is survived by his wife of 63 years, Jeanne McCormick FitzGerald and six sons; Peter R. FitzGerald of Berwyn, PA, Samuel N. and Karen FitzGerald of Sharon, CT, Benjamin C. and Barbara FitzGerald of Tucson, AZ, Geoffrey M. FitzGerald and Ellen Starr of Montpelier, VT, Mark M. FitzGerald of Bantam, CT and Anthony C. and Lori FitzGerald of Litchfield, CT, twelve grandchildren and nine great grandchildren.

Robert was born in Torrington, Connecticut on October 14, 1926. He attended St. Francis Parochial School in Torrington and graduated from Canterbury School in New Milford in 1943. In July 1943 he entered Yale at age 16. He attended midshipmen’s school at Princeton University and received his commission as an Ensign in the Navel Reserve from Northwestern at age 18. He was subsequently stationed on Guam in the Mariana Islands for one year before his discharge in August 1946.

He graduated from Yale in February 1948 and from the New York University School of Law in June 1950. He was admitted to the Connecticut Bar in July 1950 and he served as Assistant U.S. attorney for the District of Connecticut from 1953 to 1955. He joined Cramer and Anderson in 1961 and remained part of the firm until he retired in 1997.

Mr. FitzGerald and his wife moved to Litchfield in 1953 where they raised their six sons. He served as a Trustee and president of the Wolcott and Litchfield Circulating Library Association and was instrumental in moving the library to its present location and changing its name to the Oliver Wolcott Library, Inc.

He performed pro bono legal work for the Greater Litchfield Preservation Trust, Inc. and Connecticut Volunteers for the Blind and Handicapped. He was appointed as an original member of the Litchfield Housing Authority and was one of the leading forces in the creation of the Wells Run Senior Housing Project.

He was elected to the Board of Trustees of the Connecticut Junior Republic and served as President, Vice President and Treasurer of that institution for over 10 years. He also served as an officer and Governor of the Litchfield Country Club and a Director of Litchfield Bancorp for many years.

He dearly loved his family and friends and will be remembered with love and gratitude by all who knew him.

Calling hours will be held at Rowe Funeral Home, 283 Torrington Road, Litchfield on Friday, August 14, 2015 from 4-7pm. A Mass of Christian Burial will be celebrated at St. Anthony of Padua Church, 49 South Street, Litchfield on Saturday, August 15, 2015 at 10:30am. Burial will be a private family ceremony. Memorial contributions may be made to Canterbury School, Attn:Office of Advancement, 101 Aspetuck Avenue, New Milford, CT 06776 or VNA Northwest Hospice, 607 Bantam Rd. Unit F, Bantam, CT 06750.